Professor
Gregory Shields
Office: RLM 15.224
Hours: TuTh 10-11, W 3-4, or by appt
Phone: (512) 471-1402
email
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Subject
Physics of emission-line nebulae, including ionization and thermal
equilibrium, optical, infrared, and x-ray emission, spectral
diagnostics, and dynamics. Applications to Galactic nebulae,
novae, supernova remnants, active galaxies, and cosmology.
Textbook
Osterbrock & Ferland, Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and
Active Galactic Nuclei, 2nd edition (University Science Books,
ISBN 1-891389-34-3). Table of contents at
http://www.uscibooks.com,
under "New Titles".
Grading
Based on 2 closed book exams, class participation, journal talks,
project and homework.
20% Exam 1
25% Exam 2
30% Homework
25% Project and journal talk
Homework
To be written up and handed in one week after assignment.
Solutions will be provided after assignment is handed in.
Project
Students will form small teams to work on original research
projects to be formulated jointly by students and the instructor.
Talk
Students will give a short review talk on a recent research article.
Motivation
Ionized plasmas play an important role in many aspects of astrophysics. H II regions and
planetary nebulae, ionized by hot stars, provide opportunities to measure chemical
abundances and other quantities that tie into the subjects of star formation, stellar
evolution, and the chemical evolution of galaxies. The physics of ionization,
recombination, and emission apply to many other topics, including stellar envelopes,
nova shells, supernova remnants, the interstellar medium, active galaxies, and
intergalactic gas. Nebular studies include the roles of dust and hydrodynamics. A
fundamental understanding of physical processes in ionized nebulae provides the student
with tools having broad application to forefront topics in modern astrophysics.
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